In close analysis of Nick’s character discuss whether he is Offreds saviour or her down fall

Offred changes people names to hide their true identity for many people like Luke she uses bible names, Mathas are another example of this. However, there is one exception to this and that is Nick, which is another name for the devil. Due to the new Gilead system Offred has lost Luke who was a huge part of her life. She had no one to talk to she felt isolated her only need that was being fulfilled was sex but without touching â€Å"nobody dies from lack of sex its lack of love we die from.† Then all of a sudden her knight in shinning armour came into her life and changed everything round her he released her. He is the romantic element and the human factor that she can relate to the stuff that all good fairy tales are made from. Nick is the driver for the commander and lives in a room above the garage by himself. He has a French face, lean with all the angles and â€Å"creases around his mouth where he smiles.† He dresses in dark clothes so if she wants to fantasise about him she can, tall, dark and handsome. Nick is mysterious to us at first as we did not know if he an eye or not he wears the uniform of the Guardians but his â€Å"cap is tilted at a jaunty angle and his sleeves are rolled to the elbow.† This suggests that he is rebellious and likes defying the system â€Å"he has a cigarette stuck in the corner of his mouth.† He does not fit into the Gilead system and is a dangerous character to Offred due to his manner. When they first meet there is an instant attraction between the two. He winks at her in the window, he touches her foot when they are praying when she moves it away to see if it was an accident he does it again he has a bit of fun. Despite this he takes unnecessary risks when he doesn't even know her â€Å"He's just taken a risk, but for what?† and taking such risks could be the downfall to Offred â€Å"He begins to whistle. Then he winks.† The penalty for these notions is too extreme to be taking any chances and even little things such as winking and touching could result in her being sent to the colonies. They just aren't worth it. When they both meet illegally at night unintentionally they kiss and give into there urges but then push each other away again. This is the start of their relationship and they keep going back to each other after Serena-joy arranged for them to spend the night together. The first time was mainly business but she kept going back it was something to live for and someone to live. She wanted to be touched so badly â€Å"we make love not sex† and there is a clear line between these two. The situation is very dangerous for them both which makes it more exciting and increases the strong sexual attraction between them. Things are further complicated by Offreds feelings for Luke. She didn't consider her relationship with the commander as betraying Luke but she does her relationship with Nick she wanted it to happen. She keeps going back but if he really cared about her then he would stop it because he wouldn't want her to get caught. But he keeps doing it and doing it he keeps tempting her. Offred puts a lot of trust in him at an early stage she tells him her real name, which he uses to his advantage towards the end when he comes and rescues her. This shows a sign of trust . Nick is also very jealous when the commander and Offred are together he gets he spies on her. If this jealousy develops you don't the consequences he could kill her or turn her in. It could have developed like this. In conclusion Nick saves her because he takes her away at the end. He also releases her from the pressure and tension of Gilead. He tries to make everything feel as normal as possible the way it used to be by having a relationship the sneaking around is like a stimulant but Offred should be used to it due to her affair with Luke. He also gets her pregnant which means that even if he didn't save her at the end it meant that she wouldn't have to go to the colonies. However, he does take huge risks, which would mean that he is endangering his and her life for cheap thrills such as winking and touching her foot.

Automated Grading System Essay

Introduction Letter grades were first used in the United States in the last part of the 19th century. Both colleges and high schools began replacing other forms of assessment with letter and percentage grades in the early 20th century. While grading systems appear to be fairly standardized in the U.S., debates about grade inflation and the utility of grades for fostering student learning continue. Automation has had a notable impact in a wide range of industries beyond manufacturing (where it began). Once – telephone operators have been replaced largely by automated telephone switchboards and answering machines. Medical processes such as primary screening in electrocardiography or radiography and laboratory analysis of human genes, cells, and tissues are carried out at much greater speed and accuracy by automated systems. Even elections have gone automated. Applying automation to Grading systems wherein it will also make a task easy and accurate. 1.1 Background of the Study The group’s system named â€Å"Automated Student Evaluation System† is effective on inputting and storing data. And the excellence and efficiency of this system is assured. The group has taken this opportunity as a challenge and pushed our ideas into reality and has considered many aspects and ideas in making this one of a kind project. The group hopes that the readers of this documentation would be inspired as they and believe that the primary goal of grading and reporting is communication. Effective grading and reporting systems promote interaction and involvement among all stakeholders (i.e., students, parents, teachers, and administrators) in the educational process. Grading promotes the attainment of defined, content-specific learning goals and identifies where additional work is needed when it is directly aligned to the curricula. Grades serve a variety of administrative purposes when determining suitability for promotion to the next level, credits for graduation and class rank. Computerized grading makes the grading process fast, more consistent, and more reliable than traditional manual grading. With the use of today’s advanced computers and other technologies in academic industries, the technologies will not just help the establishment but also everything that covers it; from the Professors to the students. Using the new programming languages that are present today the proponents will use this technology to help the school enhance its system. But despite of having a great system there are still some point in it that needed to be replaced or enhanced. 1.2 Statement of the Problem The old system was using Microsoft Excel only for inputting and storing the grades, the grades can only be accessed in one computer and also has a chance of data loss or the files are not secured enough. Many things in this school have gone from manual to automate. The group noticed that this system does not exist in this school. We all know that making an Automated Student Evaluation System means making the task for professors in computing and calculating grades will become easy and not only that the professors will have an advantage but the students will also get a gain, because it will also improve accuracy of calculations thus making the what we call â€Å"Hula of Grades† will become non – existent in the future of Sta. Cecilia College. 1.3 Statement of Objectives The system aims to lessen the time in searching student’s records and processing of grades and to provide accurate facts to lessen errors. One of the tangible benefits of this system is cost reduction and avoidance due to facts searching of students records and processing of grades. 1.3.1 General Objective The system’s to improve more accurate information for reduction of errors. By simply exploring of student grades information needed. It will increase flexibility because this is completely packed with adequate information for grade of the students. And also to secure the students grades. 1.3.2 Specific Objectives This study aims to: ⠝â€" The grades will be properly arranged and organized. ⠝â€" It will speed up the activity of grade transactions of students. ⠝â€" It will lessen the time they consume that will promote good aspects of the school through excellent service. Nowadays, and other computerized applications for the improvement of their services. It is a necessity for this institution to follow what is in today’s world, Perhaps it is a necessity to change its image from a low technology school to a high standard facility equipped. Sta. Cecilia College offers computer courses and having a system like this will promote better learning for students because they could have interest to learn in database handling, programming and system analysis. 1.4 Significance of the Study Getting involved in this kind of study is important to be aware of the modernization of technology particularly in computer system that can be useful at present and for the future use which is necessary in order to keep track with advanced technology being in the global technology competition. The proposed study would also assist to develop the proponent’s skills, especially in terms of system analysis, system design and programming. This study will create an Automated Student Evaluation System with student information system. This will also help the company to cope up with the long work flow of their previous system. 1.5 Scopes and Limitations Scopes: ⠝â€" The system can perform specific task as inputting the grades of the student and convert it to its equivalent. ⠝â€" The system can also hold the information of the students, adding, editing and saving it to the database. ⠝â€" Calculates individual student grades Limitations: ⠝â€" The grades can only be accessed by Professors by the use of the log in user module. ⠝â€" The Registrar can only access and modify the Student information. Student evaluation is a very complex process that should take many factors into account. Recognizing the limits of various grading practices and balancing them with common sense and good judgment is an important part of the work of professional teachers.

Communication in Nursing Essay

The importance of communication is the essential foundation of nursing practise; it is primarily dependant upon verbal and non-verbal communication. Encompassing both speech and behavioural aspects, efficient delivery and receiving of the nurse-patient messages initiates advantageous relationships, or contrarily, generates significant repercussions if applied ineffectively, thus affecting the quality of the nurse-patient relationship. This essay will discuss how effective verbal and non-verbal communication in nursing practice will facilitate a mutually satisfying therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. It will firstly discuss verbal communication, followed on by the complementary non-verbal communication and lastly listening. However, for communication to succeed properly it must be reciprocal. This work has illustrated some examples of verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication primarily entails the conscious use of the spoken word, and although accounting for only fifteen percent of all interpersonal communication, is the principal means of expressing factual information in relations between nurse and patient (Ellis, Gates & Kentworthy, 2002). Whilst verbal communication is an imperative part of building the relationship between nurse and patient it is also just as important between nurse and colleague. A good relationship is vital to quality patient care, clearly both nurse and colleague have the same agenda, to care for the patient, improve and speed up recovery (Boal, Burke, & Mitchell 2004;Gasparis, 2004). Boal, Burke and Mitchell (2004) believe â€Å"better communication among providers can be a tremendous boon to older patients and their families; thus, improved nurse-physician communication is not only a remedy for diminished job satisfaction, it is also an elixir for improving patient care†. Clearly the use of verbal communication between the nurse and colleagues affects the relationships with patients, yet there are many factors involved in the way verbal communication is expressed. The effectiveness of this form of communication is however dependant upon several fundamental factors (Stein-Parbury, 1999). Certainly, the use of language reflecting age, gender, culture, and developmental level, is imperative in positively affecting the patient’s trust and understanding.  For instance, the vocabulary used when communicating with a child, will no doubt differ from that of an adult due to age difference and developmental stage. Similarly, when interacting with patients from different cultures, consideration of dialect and often-contrary meanings is a priority in nursing practice to avoid patient misinterpretation (Creasia, 1996). Whilst vocabulary content is of great consequence, the manner in which it is applied specifically intonation, clarity and timing can affect the nurse-patient relationship (Crisp & Taylor, 2003). To illustrate, a friendly, informal warm welcome in the initial communication can establish trust (Stein-Parbury, 1999). McCabe (2004) suggests that a patient centered approach is of most importance when attending a patient. Encouraging words can give the client a sense of purpose; it can encourage interaction, gives the opportunity for self expression and can strengthen the patient’s problem solving skills (Crisp & Taylor, 2003). Indeed initial verbal exchanges are critical to the establishment of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship engendering sincerity, respect, empathy and understanding (Crisp & Taylor, 2001). Despite the undoubted ability of verbal skills affirming the nurse-patient relationship, it is non-verbal communication which comprises the majority of interpersonal relationships in nursing practice (Arnold & Blogg, 1999). While both forms of communication are of equal significance Argyle (Chambers, 1998) suggests that â€Å"the non-verbal component ofCommunication is five more times more influential than the verbal aspect†. Bensing, Caris-Verhallen and Kerkstra, (1999) believe that there are five non-verbal behaviors found to be essential to the nursing care, eye gaze, head nodding, smiling and body positioning. These styles of non-verbal communication can be grouped together to form body language. Chambers (2003) also adds â€Å"touch, physical appearance and passive listening†. Through careful consideration of those non-verbal signs, nurses are able to gain a more profound insight into the emotional needs and experiences of patients, thus encouraging additional patient investigation (Stein-Parbury, 1999). Clearly these signs of non-verbal communication together with appropriate use  will endeavor to enhance the nurse-patient relationship. According to Caris-Verhallen, Kerkstra & Bensing (2002, p. 809) â€Å"to express warmth and empathy the nurse need to make eye contact with the patient†. However, eye contact is a special exception in non-verbal communication (Vernallen, Kerkstra & Bensing, 2002). It can reveal some hidden and profound feelings that cannot be expressed in another manner that will serve as a role in emphatic connection (Benjamin, 2005). For instance, in western culture, looking people in the eye is assumed to indicate honesty and straight forwardness, in Latin and Asian cultures it represents aggression and/or disrespect (Le Roux, 2002). Certainly in these circumstances, the importance of limiting eye contact and touch in appropriate cultures and regarding them as culturally dissimilar ensures patient misinterpretation is avoided. Additionally the use of touch can in some cultures be a sensitive issue for example in the Muslim culture, even in an Australian hospital it is inappropriate for a male midwife or nurse to touch or deliver a baby of an Muslim patient (ICE, 2001). However, touch can have a very positive outcome in the healing of patients, emotionally and physically. Weiss (Bush,2002) established that touch can slow heart rate, lower the incidence of cardiac arrest, decrease blood pressure, and reduce anxiety. Touch is often replaced by gestures and verbal responses. In spite of this, when patients are unwell or injured; their feelings may be enhanced by a friendly, warm touch (Duldt 1998). Furthermore whilst touch is of great consequence, physical appearance is a powerful aspect of non-verbal communication (Bensing, Caris-Verhallen, & Kerksra, 2002). A nurse should communicate with his/her appearance that he/she is dedicated and professional. Crisp & Taylor (2001) believe â€Å"it helps to establish the nurses’ trustworthiness and competence†. If a nurse’s appearance is not portrayed in a professional demeanor it could harm the nurse-patient relationship from the beginning. Whilst physical appearance is also of great importance listening is probably the most effective therapeutic communication (Sundeen, 1998). Listening is a non-intrusive way of sharing patients’ thoughts and feelings,  it requires the nurses’ whole attention and in return the patient would recognize that the nurse is paying attention and thus will give them a feeling that they are of some significance and importance (Stein-Parbury, 1999).  Accordingly, through this critical listening process, compassionate understanding of patient distress enhances their ability to confide in the nurse and further open the lines of communication (Balzer-Riley, 2004). Therefore while listening is essential part of daily communication in nursing practice, active listening requires the ability not only to hear what the patient is saying but to reflect feeling or intent behind the words (Klagsburn, 2004). Furthermore, active listening can also encourage further interaction between nurse and patient (Stein-Parbury, 1999). For instance active listening to a new bereaved widow and responding with a simple â€Å"I hear you† may be all that is required to give her a sense of empathy (Stein-Parbury, 1999). Active listening does allow for patients to simplify and express their internal thought process in a period comfortable for them, though through this critical active listening process, compassionate understanding of patient distress is imperative in achieving a mutually satisfying nurse-patient relationship. While there are advocates for both verbal and non-verbal forms of communication, it appears that the two are mutually beneficial. As evidenced by Cohen, Rankin, Stuart and Sundeen (1998), the accuracy of verbal expression relies heavily on the support of its non-verbal counterpart. Indeed, as Stein-Parbury (1999) claims, this challenging practice of communication requires a significant degree of self-awareness, or, the ability to reflect inwardly at personal reactions, responses, and feelings regarding a situation, thus enhancing wisdom for the benefit of circumstances. In essence, when communication involving vocal content and emotion do not correspond, they exhibit obvious inconsistencies thus calling for further inquiry to enable accurate validation of patient concerns (Duldt, 1998). For example, a patient who verbalizes an absence of pain, yet displays obvious signs of discomfort through contradictory facial expressions and body language, imposes additional questioning by the nurse  to gain clarification and therefore assist with appropriate care (Stein-Parbury, 1999). In Concluding, the multifaceted verbal and non-verbal styles of communication are extremely significant elements of nursing practice. This essay describes some important points and examples of different forms of communication, in particularly verbal and importantly the supportive non-verbal communication. Evidently, both verbal and non-verbal methods have inherently unique roles in nursing. However, it is when these methods are utilised in a complementary manner, that they most effectively denote empathy, trust and understanding. This essay also describes how listening is a big part of communication. Accordingly, the productive delivery and construal of both these communicative modes, contributes to the establishment of mutually satisfying therapeutic nurse-patient relationships, with the ultimate goal of assisting in patient recovery. References Arnold, K., & Blogg, E. (2003). The interpersonal relationships (4thed.). Missouri: Saunders. Balzer-Riley, J. (2004). Communication in nursing (5th ed.). Missouri:Mosby. Benjamin, L. (2005). Gaze, The American Journal of Psychiatry, 4, p. 664. Bensing, J., Caris-Verhallen, W., & Kerksra, A. (2002). Non-verbalbehaviour in nurse-elderly patient communication. Journal ofAdvanced Nursing, 29(4), 808-818. Boal, J., Burke, M., & Mitchell, R.(2004). Communicating for bettercare: Improving nurse-physician communication. American JournalOf Nursing. (104)12, p. 40. Bush, E., (2002). The use of human touch to improve the well-being ofolder adults: a holistic nursing intervention. The Journal ofHolistic Healing, 19, p.256. Chambers, S. (2003). Use of non-verbal communication skills toImprove nursing care. British journal of nursing, 12, p.874. Cohen, S., Rankin, A., Stuart, G., & Sundeen, S. (1998). Nurse clientinteraction (6th ed.). Missouri: Mosby. Creasia, J. (2001). Conceptual foundations : the bridge toprofessional nursing practice (3rd ed.). St Louis: Mosby. Crisp, J., & Taylor, C. (Eds) Potter and perry’s fundamentals ofnursing, australian adaptatio.(2nd ed.). Melbourne:Elsevier. Dongen, E., & Elma, R. (2002). The art of touching: the culture ofbody work in nursing. The Journal of Anthropology and Medicine,8, 149-162. Duldt, B. (1998). Interpersonal communication in nursing. Kansas: FADavis. Ellis, R., Gates, R., & Kenworthy, N. (Eds) Interpersonalcommunication in Nursing (2nd ed.) Edinburgh: Churchill. Friedman, N. (2003). Focusing. Xilbris corporation. Retreived march25, 2007, from http://www.focusing.orgGasbaris, L. (2004). Get real!: servants or colleagues?. R.N.Registered Nurse RN magazine, (67)9 p.92. (ICE), Information and cultural exchange. (2001). Retrieved 20 Marchfrom http://www.ice.org.auKlagsburn, J. (2004). Listening and focusing: holistic health caretool. Journal of Professional Nursing, (20)3, 141-142. Le Roux, J. (2002). Effective educators are culturally competentCommunicators. Journal of Intercultural Education, 913)1, 37-48. McCabe, C. (2004). Nurse-patient communication: an exploration ofpatients’ experiences, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 13, 41-49. Stein-Parbury, J. (2000). Patient and person (2nd ed.). Sydney:Elsevier.

Project Management in Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Project Management in Healthcare - Essay Example How can you use Microsoft Excel to assist in project risk management? What other software can help project teams make better risk management decisions?   Microsoft Excel is the perfect software solution for analyzing project risks and financial threats. It offers manifold functionalities to businesses and organizations to devise real-time risk management decisions. It objectively and mathematically computes all financial data and statistics for future analysis. Moreover reliable and detailed matrices, plans and models can be chalked out for sharing and observation. With Microsoft Excel future cash flows can be obtained in present and projected figures can be calculated. Other tools like Aon’s eSolutions can be used to manage project risk management.  Summarize different tools and techniques project managers can use to help them manage project teams. What can they do to manage virtual teams?   Following techniques can be utilized by project managers for managing project t eams.Observation and conversation: Observation and conversation are the best tools to maintain work related relationship and gauge the behavior of project team members. It helps to expedite the progress towards fulfilling team objectives and also resolve interpersonal issues.  Project Performance Appraisals: The critical nature of the project, quality of performance and organizational policy define the level of project performance appraisals. Project team members are continuously managed, evaluated and supervised by their team leads.

PEESTLE analysis for cine world and odeo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

PEESTLE analysis for cine world and odeo - Essay Example In case people change their behaviors by watching a cinema then obviously, Cineworld can change the public behavior. Technologically, Cineworld and odeo use up to date 3D technology. It was one of the earliest buyers of the new innovated technology which eases the customers in the best way (Directors report and financial statements 2013). Legal-Before making any strategy, Cineworld and odeo considers not only U.K’s legal implications, but also national legislation changes, international European Union, and their prospects as well (Odeon & UCI Finco plc financial results 2013). Environmentally, Cineworld and odeo cinemas encourage their clients to come along with glasses for watching 3D movies. This strategy had to be implemented due to the substantial glasses that were being recycled (Odeon & UCI Finco plc financial results 2013). In looking at Odeo from social cultural perspective, a trip to it has always remained affordable plus entertaining. In addition, the cinema caters for all age groups. Technologically, the cinema has introduced special effects in their cinema and introduced an online platform for users to book online tickets to their

Responsibilities of Personal Protection Officers Assignment

Responsibilities of Personal Protection Officers - Assignment Example As a management representative, the personal protection officers decide and manage the type of people that their client is supposed to meet. In addition to managing the client, their major task is to carry out the enforcement and compliance duties through the use of firm but diplomatic skills that do not compromise the general standing of their client within the society (June, 2000).   Personal protection officers are also tasked with making legal judgments that must be in line with the security demands of their clients so that they are seen to be law-abiding citizens. An important responsibility of the personal protection officer is to gather intelligence with regard to the normal operations of the place that his client is likely to visit in order to take a timely action in case of potential danger or harm. This intelligence role by the personal protection manager also involves smoking out any behavior that may be assumed to be criminal in nature, extremist or act of espionage (Ju ne, 2000).  This ensures the absolute safety of the client, which is the core function of a personal protection officer. The rationale for having personal protection officers is informed by the increasing dire situation of the security of every one especially government officials and very important persons and the threats posed by criminals, terrorists and extremists (Nemeth, 2012). In the current world where acts of terrorism have escalated, personal protection officers have been called upon to offer additional security to deal with the sophisticated and complex nature of guaranteeing the security of the clients that they are attached to. Personal protection officers have also become increasingly relevant hence the need to have them as they continue to offer other services, which even though not directly related to security enhance the safety of an

HR Training and Development #4 deadline Nov 8 Essay

HR Training and Development #4 deadline Nov 8 - Essay Example Many of the experts are unable to say with any degree of certainty what percentage of training actually gets transferred. There are certain factors that inhibit transfer of training. The unsupportive organizational climate with its everyday demands and pressures could inhibit the application of what the employees learnt in the training. Though Abbott has done its best to provide all the resources and technology necessary for application of training, it is still debatable that training has been translated into performance. The low motivation levels of the employees could be the other factors that inhibit positive transfer of training. The theoretical nature of training in some areas also makes it more challenging to implement. Self management strategies such as goal-setting, living the values, keeping up the promises, help learners think about how they will use their knowledge and skills in the work setting. The personal SWOT analysis will also help employees to clearly know about themselves and to effectively implement what they have learnt during the training. There is strong point in knowing whether the training programs are actually delivering what they have been promising.

Introduction to Network Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Introduction to Network Management - Essay Example Building A incorporates the administrative staff, Building B incorporates Academic Staff and Building C incorporates student’s network Building ‘A’ houses administration staff. Amongst their responsibilities is the provision for storing and updating student information - such as personal details and course-related details. They are currently working on an ancient 4Mbps Token ring network. They often complain about speed of the network. The Token Ring networks in each building are stand-alone – i.e. staff in each of the buildings cannot intercommunicate. There are approximately 15 members of admin staff in each building. Each Admin PC has a 4Mbps NIC installed. NIC â€Å"provides a hardware interface between a computer and a network. The term NIC most commonly refers to network adapter hardware in the form factor of an add-in card. These devices plug into the system bus of the PC and include jacks for network cables. NICs are usually Ethernet adapters, but some NICs support alternate physical layer protocols like ATM† (Network interface card.2007). The student database is held on a central server and is accessed via telnet, this is extremely slow and the software interface is dated. Staff has indicated that the method of access and interface needs to be updated. The Academic Staff network is similar to the administration network in that it is again a token ring network that is not connected to the administrational network - or to staff networks of other buildings. There are approximately 30 members of academic staff in each building. Each member of the academic team has a 4Mbps Token Ring card installed. Staff has no requirements to access student information directly; this is normally done via the administration staff. They do however need to send documents to admin staff and also require access to common areas of storage with both admin staff and students. Academic members of staff need to be able to publish course documentation on the World

International business article Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International business article - Assignment Example Last June Bharti Aitel, India’s largest mobile provider, paid $9 billion to acquire the cellular operations of Kuwait Zain. One of the reasons for the acquisitions of African companies is that compared to India the valuation of these companies are much more attractive. â€Å"The Indians view Africa as a place they can where they can replicate the low-cost, high efficiency business model they have honed at home† (Srivastava & Subramaniam). Africa has a lot of people that are eager to buy consumer goods. Consumer spending in Africa will double in the next decade to reach $1.8 trillion by the year 2020. The African people have been deprived of basic consumer goods for a long time and they are eager to increase participation in the consumer markets. Indian companies visualize Africa as a place they can continue to achieve growth due to the fact that business activity is slowing down at home. Indian companies also want to take advantage of the lower regulatory requirement av ailable for investors in Africa. The article mentions a lot of the advantages that the African continent represents for India businesses. It seems as if the Indian business people want to exploit the African market in order to improve their sales numbers and profitability. Africa is one of the poorest regions in the entire world particularly the Sub-Saharan African region. The article was a bit one side as far as illustrating the advantages that Africa offered to India and not letting the reader know how Africa is going to benefit from the Indian involvement in Africa. Some of the large acquisitions mentioned in the article made a lot of sense from a business standpoint. Due to the fact that Africa has very poor infrastructure landlines are barely available. Most Africans that desire to communicate with each other must utilize mobile technology. It would be smart the African mobile company to offer prepaid mobile services since they are cheaper to acquire which increases the amount

Economics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economics - Assignment Example Obama never hesitated to introduce domestic economic initiatives that would check the economic issues. He requested Congress for an economic stimulus package that is worth more than 800 billion dollars. He requested this grant for dealing with the economic crisis. This grant became an integral part in the President’s economic policy for the nation. As a part of Obama’s economic policy in the United States, he had a discussion with the banking sector to bring new banking policies so that the customers will be benefited. He formulated economic policies that help US come out of the recession. However, certain resources say that no international policies have been started by him. He has also been silent in the topics of world recession. First preference of the president’s economic policy is to upgrade trade relations with other nations. Economic conditions of America went through a difficult phase. Even though US economy has faced a constant  economic  growth, th ey encountered financial crisis before few years. Its economic growth had severely impeded by the recession. Economy of US is considered as the healthiest and fast developing economy. US economy is one of the fast growing economies of the world. US government developed several monetary and fiscal policies that made the nation come out of the grave economic problem. Several actions have been taken to stabilize the economic crunch. Several new economic policies are introduced by the government so that the financial sector is steady enough to handle the nation. New economic policies of the nation are intended to solidify and build up economic growth and productivity. However growth and development are not always evenly distributed in the United States. The economic policy of US strains the equality in healthcare and financial access. Several health insurance programs have been initiates to ensure better healthcare facilities for US residents. The economic policy of the nation is target ed towards making the nation a market oriented economy. In a market oriented economy majority of the decisions are made by private business firms and individuals. Business firms enjoy a great amount of flexibility in the United States. Even the business firms of Japan and Western Europe enjoy such flexibility. Introduction of new products is expected to bring economic growth. Big developments are expected in the fields of aerospace, computers, medical equipment and military equipment. Per capita gross domestic product may experience growth according to the new American economic policy. Underemployment and unemployment rates are expected to decrease. Exports also expect a rise because of the new economic policy. The economic recovery started by the middle of 2009. It got strengthened in the following months. However, the development has not been fast enough to bring a major progress in the job market. The first phase of the economic recovery, in the later months of 2009 and in the ea rly months of 2010, included the stabilization of the financial system and the different effects of the expansionary fiscal and monetary policies. The economic recovery also witnessed a strong boost to production from the various ventures that build their depleted inventories. But economic growth slowed down at a big rate as the impetus from inventory building and fiscal stimulus diminished. Moreover, the debt problems of Europe disturbed the global

Multiple types of laws Essay Example for Free

Multiple types of laws Essay During last week’s session multiple types of laws were introduced and their differences were discussed. One of the types of laws that were discussed were civil laws. Civil laws were created to â€Å"compensate parties and businesses for losses as a result of another’s conduct† (Melvin, 2011). This means that these laws were created for certain types of conduct against another party to be handled civilly between them. For any type of offense that is handled civilly, the defendant will need to repay the plaintiff for any loss suffered. Another type of law is criminal law. Criminal laws â€Å"are a protection of society and the violation of criminal laws results in penalties to the violator such as fines or imprisonment† (Melvin, 2011). This means that these laws were created to protect all of society against criminals that disrupt the peace of others. Another type of law that we focused on was â€Å"Common Law†. Common law, also known as â€Å"Case Law†, is a basic system to ensure that cases with similar commonalities are treated fairly and consistently. For example, imagine that you are the victim of a reckless driver who side swipes your car, and the judge is now responsible for deciding whether the defendant is liable for the damages in question. The judge will listen to the statements in court and refer to common law in other cases to ensure that the party is fairly dismissed or prosecuted, depending on the verdict. The type of law that many people have heard of is statutory law, also known as written law. Unlike Common Law, Statutory law is made by legislature and written down (hence the â€Å"aka† written law). Statutory Law is a concept in order to underscore the distinction between laws that a governing body makes and case law. If looking for an example of Statutory Law, you do not have to travel too far, or fast I should say; posted speed limits. This means that the speed limit is â€Å"formally† (and literally in this case) written and enacted. Another law that was discussed last week was substantive law. â€Å"Substantive law is the statutory, or written law, that defines rights and duties, such as crimes and punishments, civil rights and responsibilities in civil law†Ã‚  (Melvin, 2011). This law defines and regulates individual’s rights. Some example substantive law is the law of contracts, torts as we talk about in the last lecture along with real property and the essential substance of rights under the law. Substantive law and procedural law are the two main categories with the law. Procedural law sets the rules and methods employed to obtain one’s rights and in particular how the courts are conducted. This law basically defines and creates rights limitations under which society us governed. References Melvin, S. P. (2011). The Legal Environment of Business. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.

Narrative Essay Example for Free

Narrative Essay Narrative essay Cooking with my mother Some of my fondest childhood memories have been shared cooking with my mother in our small kitchen. Coming from a big family it was always important that there was enough food and food that everybody liked. My mother knew every ones favorite dishes and things that we didn’t like. She is an amazing cook and always had me help especially with holiday dinners one in particular always sticks out in my flood of memories. It was thanksgiving and I was eleven my mother woke me up at seven in the morning and told me I had to help her cook. She never did this before I used to wake up later and maybe cut a few carrots and celery for the stuffing she would make on the stove this was different. I complained like a bratty preteen and asked why I was waking up and she told me that I had to learn to cook one day and why not on thanksgiving. Forcing my self down the staircase into the kitchen and sitting on one of the many stools surrounding the island. She pulled out the twenty-eight pound turkey and rinsed it off and pulled all the giblets out. I remember trying not to grimace because my mother was one to tease you about those types of things. I started cutting up the carrots and celery while my mom got the breadcrumbs and cranberries. I’d occasionally ask why don’t you measure anything and it was always the same answer â€Å"because I know by eyeballing it†. Next she had me stuff this bread crumby mush into the turkey. Then Covered him in butter, salt, and lemon pepper and it was ready to go into the oven. She smiled and said I did a great job. The rest of the stuff was easy squash, potatoes, corn, and green beans. That day I found a new respect for my mom and cooking. She always made every ones plate knowing the portions and dishes we all would want. Now I always help her with the cooking for every occasion and have even tweaked some of he recipes to put my own spin on them. I cant wait for the day that I make my mother a whole dinner and amaze her like she has amazed me through the years.

The Healthcare Quality Strategy For Nhs Nursing Essay

The Healthcare Quality Strategy For Nhs Nursing Essay This essay will discuss a significant event in relation to the peoples priorities identified within the Healthcare Quality Strategy. The essay will demonstrate my understanding and views on reflection and the issues surrounding my practice. I have chosen Gibbs (1988) reflective framework as it has a structured format and six steps which follow in order starting with a description of the event and ending with an action plan for future practice. The steps are Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion and Action Plan (Gray, 2007). Reid, (1993) describes reflection as a process of reviewing an experience of practice in order to describe, analyse, evaluate and so inform learning about practice. The Scottish Government introduced the Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland in 2010, their aim is to deliver the peoples priorities which are: firstly caring and compassionate staff and services, good communication and a clear explanation about conditions and treatments, effective teamwork between clinicians, patients and others, a clean and safe care environment, continuity of care and clinical excellence. Secondly, to bring together the patients priorities as well as the values of everyone working within the NHS Scotland. Thirdly, by applying these three interventions and putting them into practice improvements within priority areas of the Healthcare Quality Strategy will be met (Scottish Government, 2010, p.6). This reflective account will focus on the importance of communication and will identify if the priority was met in relation to my significant event and it will further clarify its importance (Scottish Government, 2010, p.6). Whilst on my Management Placement I met Janet, all names have been changed to protect her identity and maintain her confidentiality (NMC, 2008). Description Janet is 65 years old and has been admitted to my ward for palliative care. She has end stage bowel cancer and is awaiting a bed at the local Hospice. Janet lives at home with her husband, she has a full package of care and her son also visits on a regular basis. However, Janets doctor has requested that she be admitted onto the ward as she is now confined to bed because of increased pain and a general deterioration of her condition (Dougan and Colquhoun, 2006). Feelings Whilst carrying out my training as a student nurse, I have met a number of palliative patients and I feel that I lack confidence when communicating with these patients and their families at this difficult time. However, as I was on this ward for a longer period of time I was able to build up a good rapport with Janet and her family and this allowed me to provide good patient centred care (NMC, 2008). Therefore when dealing with Janet and her family at this difficult time I must treat Janet as an individual (NMC, 2008), provide her with the best care and be caring and compassionate always (Scottish Government, 2010, p.6). I was privileged to have the opportunity to be involved in Janets care as well as working within a ward of clinical excellence (Scottish Government, 2010, p.6). Evaluation Over the next few days whilst looking after Janet and taking part in the ward rounds, I was able to plan Janets care, the Doctor explained to me that Janet was not going to improve and we would have to keep her comfortable and pain free. Palliative care patients must have good symptom control of their pain and also nausea and vomiting. Janet was placed on a syringe driver to control her pain. A syringe driver is a small portable pump which is attached to the skin by a cannula and gives the patient a continuous dose of analgesics and/or anti-emetics (MacMillan Cancer Support, 2012). In relation to the Scottish Governments Programme Living and Dying Well when caring for palliative patients a holistic approach with continuity of care is extremely important (Scottish Government, 2008) and all nurses have a central role in providing information, care and support (Kennedy and Lockhart, 2007). Excellent communication and good interpersonal skills are paramount when caring for Janet, it is important not only to establish Janets wants and needs but also her families. It is imperative when relaying any information to Janet or her family make sure they understand it, if not explain the information to them again (NMC, 2008). Also when dealing with members of the multi-disciplinary team, effective teamwork is imperative again providing Janet and her family with continuity of care and the clinical excellence they require from all staff. Analysis Palliative care helps to improve the quality of life for patients and their families who have to come to terms with the difficulties associated with life threatening illness. It is about identifying the patients needs through accurate assessment, good symptom control and sensitive nursing care (Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care, 2012). In addition to caring for Janet on the ward I was given the opportunity to go to the Hospice and meet with Janets palliative care nurse and also be included in her multi-disciplinary team meeting. This again highlighted the importance of good communication and good record keeping as all team members were aware of Janets circumstances and could pick up her case notes and know exactly what was happening with Janet at any given time (NICE, 2004). This meant that when I was communicating with Janet and her family I was more confident and I was able to communicate in a language that they understood (Dunne, 2005). As well as building a trusting relationship between nurse and patient, good communication skills helps to reduce fear and anxiety at this stressful time (Dunne, 2005). In relation to Janets transfer from hospital to Hospice the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) was put in place, this model allows all staff on the ward and any multi-disciplinary team members guidance on all elements of Janets care. It provides a holistic approach to Janets care and support for her family in the last few days of her life (Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool, 2012). Good communication is paramount when dealing with the palliative patient as this forms the basis of a good nurse/patient relationship which greatly improves care and helps to reduce anxiety and stress for patients, relatives and carers (Kennedy and Lockhart, 2007). At the time of this experience I felt I communicated well with Janet and her family and the care I delivered was to a high standard and to the best of my ability. She appeared less anxious than when she was initially admitted onto the ward. I felt my mentor and myself displayed good communication skills, through verbal and non-verbal communication which in turn was upheld through good record keeping and accurate documentation throughout Janets hospital stay (NMC, 2009). On reflection this event has brought further awareness of the level of involvement of staff members from auxiliaries, nurses and consultants. This was shown by the number of multi-disciplinary meetings, assessments, re-assessments, written correspondence and working hours placed into looking after this patient (NMC, 2009). All staff members were committed to providing the correct input and treatment for this patient and to make her last few days as comfortable as possible (Scottish Government, 2010), which also ensured clear communication and collaboration between the doctors, family and nursing staff (Scottish Government, 2010). Conclusion This reflection has demonstrated the difficultly in caring for palliative care patients. It requires a holistic approach to ensure that the patient and their family receive the best possible attention. Nurses have a duty to ensure that the care they deliver is of an acceptable standard (NMC, 2008). While participating in ward rounds I took on board the doctors instructions and carried out and prioritised the care of my patient, therefore making Janets stay in hospital as comfortable as possible. The code provides values, which can be adapted to any setting and as long as these are followed, nurses will be able to carry out their legal and professional duty of care (NMC, 2008). Action Plan Palliative care is a sensitive subject to deal with but I feel that as long as you treat the patient as an individual, listen to their wants and needs, then a positive outcome can be accomplished. Communication and good interpersonal skills are once again highlighted as an essential part of good nursing practice. I must be an effective communicator and be able to provide a high standard of care at all times and this is imperative when dealing with palliative care patients. I must also keep my knowledge and skills up to date (NMC, 2008). In relation to my transition from student to staff nurse I am aware of how important everything I have learned throughout my training is, from personal care, comfort, empathy, a caring and compassionate manner, clear and effective communication, prioritising care and being part of a team and this is only a very small portion of what I have learned. I will take all of this knowledge with me and put into in practice when I am caring for patients and their families in the future as a staff nurse. Identify Steps Through experience of this placement and in relation to my transition from student nurse to staff nurse; the steps to facilitate an improvement and development would be to ensure effective communication with all staff and all members of the multidisciplinary team. This includes accurate record keeping and the collection of all relevant information from the patient and their family in order to deliver safe effective patient care. It also promotes a positive nurse-patient relationship and offers reassurance at this difficult time (Dunne, 2005). In addition palliative care does not only deal with cancer patients but with patients who have long term chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, heart disease and respiratory problems, therefore palliative care is relevant today and also in the future because, we will be caring for an ageing population (Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care, 2012) Conclusion In conclusion reflection is about making sense of the daily challenges which are put before you, as a student nurse transitioning into a staff nurse its about keeping my skills and knowledge up to date and reflecting on my daily practice in order to achieve the best outcome for my patient (Taylor, 2006). Bowie (2010) states that positive practice should be highlighted as it allows others to learn from it and provides opportunities to improve the safety of patient care. Reflecting on these events has helped me to identify areas where practice needs improvement and given me a greater insight into my own role as a registered nurse.

Copyright in Taiwan :: Taiwan Copyright Essays

Copyright in Taiwan Introduction The economic structure of Taiwan has been undergoing rapid changes in the recent thirty years. Taiwan has moved offshore from a labor-intensive industrialized country to an export-oriented economy. With the concentration of capital and technology, and the rapid diversification of hi-tech professional services, the structure of Taiwan industries has also changed greatly since late 1970s. The total annual production value accounted for by technology intensive industries has increased from 60 percent in mid 1980s to 75 percent in mid 1990s. These figures are a clear indication of successful liberation and internationalization of Taiwan economy as a whole. With the advanced technology and mass production of the computer hardware and software, new problems created for society by computer arose. In addition, as the cost of computer hardware declined, the importance of software increased: software is where the action and the money are these days. The total world market for software is now approaching $100 billion a year. Partly as a result, copying computer programs, often referred as software piracy, has become a major growth industry. At the core of the global copyright problem, Taiwan is one of the â€Å"king† of software piracy in Asia. The Business Software Association estimates that U.S. software companies lose over $800 million a year because of Taiwan software piracy. The newest threat to the software and multimedia industries in Taiwan is the use of computers and the internet to illegally digitize and copy information, including software, music, and movies. With the growth of Internet users populations, it has created a market for pirated products by making illegal copies of the latest software programs, music, and movies available to anyone with a computer, anywhere in the world, at the click of a mouse. Other ways to trade copyright material, such as peer to peer sharing, have also challenged copyright law. Adequate Intellectual Property Right (IPR) protection is a vital element in the development of high technology, high value-added production, and the professional services. The government of Taiwan is fully aware of this fact. They understand that they must make revisions to its current copyright laws in order to strengthen the degree to which IPR is protected in Taiwan. Over the years, Taiwan government has made progress, the Patent Law has undergone two revisions, the Trademark Law three revisions, and the Copyright Law five revisions. As for enforcement, apart from increasing the penalties for infringement of rights and increasing the power of Customs officials to inspect suspected counterfeit shipments, the MOEA has also created the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee with responsibility for processing charges of piracy.

Human Rights in Brazil Essay -- Human Rights Essays

Human Rights in Brazil The population in Brazil consists of 144 million people. Brazil is one of the fastest-growing nations in the Western Hemisphere. Its population is increasing at the rate of about 2 % a year. The constitution of Brazil gives the president tremendous powers. For example, the president may intervene in affairs of Brazil's states. The chief executive may even create new states from existing ones. Brazil has three main ethnic groups-whites, blacks, and people of mixed ancestry. Most of the whites are from Europe. According to the Brazilian government whites make up about 60% of the nation's population, and people of mixed races form about 30%. However, the government of Brazil counts many lightskinned people of mixed ancestry as white. Brazil's ethnic groups generally get along well with one another. Racial discrimination in Brazil if far less widespread than that in many other countries with people of several races. But Brazilians of European descent have had better educational opportunities. As a result, they hold most of the higher jobs in government and industry. Many of the non-Europeans, particularly blacks, have excelled in the arts, entertainment and sports. Brazil's prison system system is in crisis. Four years ago, in its 1990 urban violence report Amnesty International described the prisons as being at breaking point, holding double their official capacity in "inhuman" conditions. Four years later the situation has not improved. In some respects, it has deteriorated. Overcrowding, lack of medical and legal assistance, torture and ill-treatment of inmates and harassment of visitors are endemic. A frightening and rising proportion of prisoners carry the HIV virus. In the Women's Prison of Soo Paulom, around 33% of the inmates are infected with the virus, while in the male prison the figure reaches 27% of the prison population. A study published in 1994 shows that the majority of prisoners are yourn, poor, and black. agroup of inmates in the Desembargador Vidal Pessoa Central Prison of Manaus, Amazonas held a peaceful protest against conditions in es called in military police shock-troops. They reportedly beat the inmates, who had taken refuge in their cells, with batons, as well as hitting and kicking them. Subsequently they locked the inmates in their cells and threw tear gas grenades in after them. For pris... ...cial vulnerability. These constitutional provisions have been further developed in the basic law known as the "Statue for Children and Adolescents." This Statue, enacted in 1990, has been praised by UNICEF as one of the moset comprehensive in the world. Government programs, including the installation of hundreds of Centers for Comprehensive Child Care, address basic needs such as education, distrubution of nutritious meals, health care and the promotion of children's rights. The "Pact for the Children", co-signed by the President of Brazil and 24 state governors, set up a "Plan of Action" which is intended to fully implement the constitutional and legal provisions that provide for protection of children and adolescents. Several fedrral agencies oversee the execution of government programs for children and adolescents designed to give to Brazilian yourth opportunities for a better life, education, shelter, and love. Moreover, as mandated by law, 21 states and 1,654 municipalities have established special Councils for Children's Rights. Several hot-lines are operating throughout Brazil making it easier for children to seek help and report instances of violence, neglect or abuse. Human Rights in Brazil Essay -- Human Rights Essays Human Rights in Brazil The population in Brazil consists of 144 million people. Brazil is one of the fastest-growing nations in the Western Hemisphere. Its population is increasing at the rate of about 2 % a year. The constitution of Brazil gives the president tremendous powers. For example, the president may intervene in affairs of Brazil's states. The chief executive may even create new states from existing ones. Brazil has three main ethnic groups-whites, blacks, and people of mixed ancestry. Most of the whites are from Europe. According to the Brazilian government whites make up about 60% of the nation's population, and people of mixed races form about 30%. However, the government of Brazil counts many lightskinned people of mixed ancestry as white. Brazil's ethnic groups generally get along well with one another. Racial discrimination in Brazil if far less widespread than that in many other countries with people of several races. But Brazilians of European descent have had better educational opportunities. As a result, they hold most of the higher jobs in government and industry. Many of the non-Europeans, particularly blacks, have excelled in the arts, entertainment and sports. Brazil's prison system system is in crisis. Four years ago, in its 1990 urban violence report Amnesty International described the prisons as being at breaking point, holding double their official capacity in "inhuman" conditions. Four years later the situation has not improved. In some respects, it has deteriorated. Overcrowding, lack of medical and legal assistance, torture and ill-treatment of inmates and harassment of visitors are endemic. A frightening and rising proportion of prisoners carry the HIV virus. In the Women's Prison of Soo Paulom, around 33% of the inmates are infected with the virus, while in the male prison the figure reaches 27% of the prison population. A study published in 1994 shows that the majority of prisoners are yourn, poor, and black. agroup of inmates in the Desembargador Vidal Pessoa Central Prison of Manaus, Amazonas held a peaceful protest against conditions in es called in military police shock-troops. They reportedly beat the inmates, who had taken refuge in their cells, with batons, as well as hitting and kicking them. Subsequently they locked the inmates in their cells and threw tear gas grenades in after them. For pris... ...cial vulnerability. These constitutional provisions have been further developed in the basic law known as the "Statue for Children and Adolescents." This Statue, enacted in 1990, has been praised by UNICEF as one of the moset comprehensive in the world. Government programs, including the installation of hundreds of Centers for Comprehensive Child Care, address basic needs such as education, distrubution of nutritious meals, health care and the promotion of children's rights. The "Pact for the Children", co-signed by the President of Brazil and 24 state governors, set up a "Plan of Action" which is intended to fully implement the constitutional and legal provisions that provide for protection of children and adolescents. Several fedrral agencies oversee the execution of government programs for children and adolescents designed to give to Brazilian yourth opportunities for a better life, education, shelter, and love. Moreover, as mandated by law, 21 states and 1,654 municipalities have established special Councils for Children's Rights. Several hot-lines are operating throughout Brazil making it easier for children to seek help and report instances of violence, neglect or abuse.

John Napier :: essays research papers

John Napier-   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Napier was born in Merchiston Tower in Scotland, 1550. He was known as the â€Å"Marvelous Merchiston†, a title received for his genius and imaginative vision in a number of fields. Napier studied briefly at St. Andrews University beginning at the age of 13. On his marriage in 1572, he was provided with an estate by his father, Sir Archibald Napier of Mechiston. He passed the remainder of his life as a land proprietor, devoting his free time to mathematics, invention, and theology. Napier died at Merchiston castle on April 14, 1617.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beginning in about 1594, Napier worked for 20 years in developing ideas on logarithms and tables of logarithms. During this period he elaborated his systems whereby products, quotients, and roots could quickly be determined from his tables, which showed powers of 10 with a fixed number used as a base.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Napier’s system relied on the fact that all numbers can be expressed in exponential form. For instance, in a base 2 system, 4 can be written as 2 and 8 can be written as 2 , while 5, 6, and 7 can be written using some fractional exponent between 2 and 3. Once numbers were written in this exponential form, multiplication could be done basically by adding the exponents, and division could be done by subtracting the exponents. This considerably simplified computations such as trigonometric calculations used in astronomy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Napier finally published his tables of logarithms in 1614 in his â€Å"Mirifici Logarithmorum Canonis Descriptio† (A description of the marvelous rule of logarithms) which also told the steps which had led to their invention.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1615 the English mathematician Henry Briggs talked with Napier, and together they developed the rules of Common logarithms, using 10 as a base. Briggs published his tables of Common logarithms in 1617.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Napier’s second published work on logarithms, the â€Å"Mirifici Logarithmorum

The Concept of Kairos

In the midst of the ordinary time (kronos), extraordinary time (kairos) happens. A cultural word morphed by Christianity Introduction In a scene from Dead Poets Society, Professor John Keating challenges his boarding school English class. They sheepishly stand in front of the trophy case peering inquisitively into the photographs of alumna. The professor speaks with a deliberate tone about the boys in the faded black and white photographs: They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you.Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you; their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? Carpe! Hear it? Carpe! Carpe diem! Seize the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary.Why does the call to live extraordinary lives ring so loudly for some they are compelled to follow it with a zealous passion? What causes the same call for others to become merely a drone to ignore amidst all the other noises of life? No matter where one falls on this continuum the call remains the same for every human being. Carpe diem! [Literally, pluck the day] Choose to live in such a way that reflects the extraordinariness of your life. Position yourself to get caught up in the great drama. You have been destined to make an impact. LifetimeThe span of time that measures a person’s life is referred to as a lifetime. Each person has a limited span of time to live. Yet each person is given the opportunity to leave a legacy which is about contribution, significance, and things that really matter. Could there be two spans of time, whether recognized or not, which actually intersect? Kronos (k ronos) is the ancient Greek word which refers to sequential or linear time. In Greek mythology, the god Chronos, pictured as elderly, gray-haired and bearded, was the personification of time.Kronos is symbolized by the newborn baby that ushers in the New Year and ends the year as a bent-over old man: Father Time. We know kronos time as chronology; tick-tock time. It is measured, or chronicled, by clocks, hours, minutes and seconds. It is the time in which we make appointments and face deadlines. It tends to be more of a nemesis or taskmaster than a friend. We schedule our lives by it. Most people speak of never having enough of it as we race around the clock to make sure we maximize the time. Some even refer to much of life as â€Å"putting in the time. †Jonathan Larsen’s Broadway Musical Rent questions the measure of time, and parenthetically, the quality of kronos time with the lyrics of â€Å"Seasons of Love†: Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Min utes How Do You Measure – Measure A Year? In Daylights – In Sunsets In Midnights – In Cups Of Coffee In Inches – In Miles In Laughter – In Strife In – Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes How Do You Measure a Year In The Life? How About Love? Larsen’s lyrics, while suggesting the continuum of life, carry angst for something more than tick-tock time.In the journey of kronos time is there, could there be something more significant, something of value, something legacy-driven that gives lasting impact to kronos time? The ancient Greeks would answer in the affirmative. Opportune Time Kairos (kairos), even though the Greek meanings are complex and culturally dependent, refers to the right time, opportune time or seasonable time. It cannot be measured. It is the perfect time, the qualitative time, the perfect moment, the â€Å"now. † Kairos brings transcending value to kronos time.Eric Charles White, in Kaironomia: O n the Will-to-Invent, defines kairos with this imagery: 2 Archery – an opening, or opportunity or, more precisely, a long tunnel-like aperture through which the archer's arrow has to pass. Successful passage of a kairos requires, therefore, that the archer's arrow be fired not only accurately but with enough power for it to penetrate. Weaving – the critical time when the weaver must draw the yarn through a gap that momentarily opens in the warp of the cloth being woven. Kairos is the right moment of opportunity which requires proactivity to achieve success.It is significant and decisive. These moments transcend kronos, stirring emotions and realities to cause decisive action. It is not an understatement to say that kairos moments alter destiny. To miscalculate kronos is inconvenient. To miscalculate kairos is lamentable. The Background of Kairos Kairos was known in Greek mythology as the youngest child of the god Zeus. Quite close to the entrance to the stadium [at Oly mpia] are two altars; one they call the altar of Hermes of the Games, the other the altar of Kairos (Opportunity).Pausanias, Guide to Greece 5. 14. 9 His bronze statute was known as the most beautiful of statutes. Eye witnesses describe the statute as youthful, â€Å"beautiful to look upon as he waved his downy beard and left his hair unconfined for the south wind to toss wherever it would; and he had a blooming complexion, showing by its brilliancy the bloom of his body†¦he stood poised on the tips of his toes on a sphere, and his feet were winged. † The statue was so magnetic people â€Å"stood speechless at the sight. † The artist sought to capture the very essence of kairos:The wings on his feet, he told us, suggested his swiftness, and that, borne by the seasons, he goes rolling on through all eternity; and as to his youthful beauty, that beauty is always opportune and that Kairos (Opportunity) is the only artificer of beauty, whereas that of which the beauty has withered has no part in the nature of Kairos (Opportunity); he also explained that the lock of hair on his forehead indicated that while he is easy to catch as he approaches, yet, when he has passed by, the moment of action has likewise expired, and that, if opportunity (kairos) is neglected, it cannot be recovered. † Callistratus, Descriptions 6The Ancient Greeks, the seedbed of existential thinkers, sought to understand kairos at multiple levels. They applied kairos thinking in arenas of legal, political, and epideitic (the artfully skilled and heightened rhetorical expression of praise). In legal rhetoric, kairos was related to justice beyond the written law, that is, law applied at specific times and circumstances unforeseen by legislators. Political rhetoric concerns the elements of usefulness, suitability, and honor. Kairos was also central to the Sophists, who saw kairos as the ability to understand the subtleties of a rhetorical situation.Kairos is seen as the ora tor’s ability to adapt to and take advantage of the contingent circumstances. One element of speech rhetoric is The Audience, the psychological and emotional makeup of the hearers. The other is Decorum, the principle of apt speech. Aristotle identifies kairos as intrinsically 3 related to the time and space when proof must be delivered to the hearers. Therefore, speakers are to be aware of their words AND be able to choose opportune moments to re-awaken the hearers. That moment, recognized, chosen and acted upon, is kairotic or interchangeably, kairos.Kairos was not only dependent upon the appropriate timing and purpose, but also the appropriate nature of the situation, the approach, and the implications of what is being presented. [These concepts are explained in detail in the book Rhetoric and Kairos: Essays in History, Theory and Praxis, Phillip Sipiora and James S. Baumlin. ] Modern day students of rhetoric are baffled by the word. S. H. Butcher who translated much of Ari stotle noted that â€Å"kairos is a Greek word ‘with no single precise equivalent in any other language. ’† (Encyclopedia of Rhetoric, 118).They believe that grasping the spirit of kairos IS their area of study because the spirit of kairos is essential to the practice of rhetoric. Even though kairos is a bit illusive, it is at the same time, alluring. The Greeks knew kairos intersected kronos time. Yet, what was the impact of kairos? For whom was kairos available? Did kairos opportunities reside for only a few? In Panathenaicus, Isocrates writes that educated people are those â€Å"who manage well the circumstances which they encounter day by day, and who possess a judgment which is accurate in meeting occasions as they arise and rarely misses the expedient course of action. It was into this setting where the Apostle Paul engaged in kairotic interchanges in Athens on the Areopagus (also known as Mars Hill). Can you picture a well-educated man, known and respecte d for his zealousness in seeking to destroy the followers of a new sect out of Jerusalem called â€Å"The Way† (Christ-followers), and who had the ability to stand toe-to-toe with philosophers, now directing his tenacity toward sharing the real meaning of â€Å"opportunity? † Here’s one example: [Paul] also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, â€Å"This babbler has picked up some strange ideas. † Others said, â€Å"He's pushing some foreign religion. † Then they took him to the Council of Philosophers. â€Å"Come and tell us more about this new religion,† they said. â€Å"You are saying some rather startling things, and we want to know what it's all about. † (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas. Acts 17:18-21 Just a few short decades before th is interchange, the Divine intersected the world’s kronos time with His reality of kairos. A unique kairos has dawned. It came in the flesh, Jesus, the Christ. Time – even kairos itself – was ready to be redeemed. The Redefining of Kairos The New Testament writers reflect the evolution of the word by referring to kairos time as the present moment, the defining moment, and even the God-ordained moments. Kairos is the time-frame for divine interaction and occurrences. 4 Mark 1:14-15 â€Å"the time† (is fulfilled)Kairos is a time which requires a change or reorienting. Luke 12:54-56 â€Å"the present time† Kairos is extraordinary time, requiring interpretation. The capacity to read the signs of the times—the kairos—and respond is an issue of faith. Luke 19:44 â€Å"the time† (of your visitation from God) Kairos is a dangerous time. It is critical to recognize it, for if you allow it to pass the loss will be immeasurable. There is a burden or responsibility tied up in the recognition of the kairos. Romans 13:11-13 â€Å"the time . . . the moment† Kairos time is here.It calls for action and transformation—a change of life. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 â€Å"the acceptable time† Kairos is not just crisis but opportunity and favor. God assists us in discerning the kairos—a moment of grace. Scripture writers accepted and leaned into the multiple dimensions of kairos: The divine reality of God and His kingdom that is available in each moment. Signifies a decisive moment of history when an old world would die and a new age would be born Moments which transcend time (kronos), stirring emotions and realities to cause decisive action.These are moments that alter destiny; seizing upon the crucial moment to perform accurately and skillfully in order to achieve a goal. A divine opportunity – season or moment – that one dare not miss. The apostle Paul knew the importance of reorienting the whole concept of kairos to the perspective of the Kingdom of God. (Kairos is used 85 times in the New Testament and 30 of these are by Paul. ) The Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were capricious and dispensed good or ill arbitrarily. The pagan deities were constantly at odds. Who would bring clarity?As clearly as John Keating passionately urged, â€Å"Carpe diem,† Paul traveled throughout the Asia Minor teaching, and more importantly, living out the message: exagorazesqai ton kairon literally, â€Å"buy up the opportunity. † The word â€Å"buy up† has its roots in the image of going to the marketplace and seeking to buy back, â€Å"to take it off the market†; to redeem. The admonition seems to be clear: people who live 5 in kronos time need to intersect with the Divine in order to grasp the full power of kairos. Go and buy back opportunities! Redeem them for good!Every person needs to know the real kairos: God-appointed time. Paul used the exact same Greek words as he wrote to two different churches: Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Colossian 4:5 [NAS] Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16 [NAS] Paul wanted people to understand that kairos did not come in the form of a peering at a statute but in letting the eternal kairos, Christ, form more of your mind and subsequently your behavior. St.Ignatius Loyola wrote, â€Å"There are very few people who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves into His hands and let themselves be formed by His grace. † Our world needs to know the depth of the Heavenly Father’s love and the dream He has for every human being to be eternally changed by His power and grace. In an effort to capture kairos for church-goers in the centuries that followed Paul, the Eastern Orthodox Church Liturgy begins with this exclam ation, â€Å"Kairos tou poiesai to Kurio† (â€Å"It is time [kairos] for the Lord to act†), indicating that the time of the Liturgy is an intersection with Eternity.It is difficult to measure kairos time. It flows; allowing us to be in the moment. Erwin McManus, while never using the term kairos, speaks of a flow of time; movements which move in a timely manner and waits for no one. Describing or capturing a kairos moment is fluid and beyond expression. McManus suggests: I think we need to spend a day with Monet. He had a clear sense of what was hidden in a moment. Most of us think of a movement as something that’s stationary, stagnant, and unchanging. We want to capture the moment and stand in the moment.If there’s a moment you want to preserve or remember you must take a snapshot. The genius of Monet is that he saw the moment for what it really was. It was as if he read the dictionary and realized that the essence of the words moment and motion are the same. Monet was a master of light and movement. His paintings were blurred and obscure and yet beautiful and full of insight. If we could someone see life through his eyes, we would begin to see life as it really is. (An Unstoppable Force) Grasping the Depth of KairosOne doesn’t catch up with kairos time rather one participates in it. Kairos time can occur during activity or stillness. It simply intersects with kronos time. Newbery-Award winning author Madeleine L'Engle, best known for her children's books, writes of kronos and kairos. She suggest that kairos can sometimes enter, penetrate, and break through kronos: the child at play, the painter at an easel, the 6 saint at prayer, friends around the dinner table, the mother reaching out for the newborn are in what she calls kairos.Taking kairos a step further Jean Shinoda Bolen suggests, â€Å"When we participate in time and therefore lose our sense of time passing we are in kairos; here we are totally absorbed in the prese nt moment, which may actually stretch out over hours. † (Close to the Bone: Life Threatening Illness and the Search for Meaning, p 86) T. S. Eliot (Four Quartets) ruminates in â€Å"The Dry Salvages† Number 3: For most of us, there is only the unattended Moment, the moment in and out of time, The distraction fit, lost in a shaft of sunlight,The wild thyme unseen, or the winter lightning Or the waterfall, or music heard so deeply That it is not heard at all, but you are the music While the music lasts. Could it be that one could get so caught up in kairos that kronos is truly transcended? At those moments one is at soul-level. The Kairos Call The notion of kairos is characterized by what Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who survived years of imprisonment and exile in the Gulag Archipelago, calls â€Å"knots,† those decisive historic moments in which everything is rolled up and tied in a knot.In The Interpretation of History, Lutheran Theologian Paul Tillich made prominent use of the term, referring to kairos as those moments of crisis in history which create an opportunity for, and even demand, an existential decision. William Wilberforce forged the way for the abolition of slavery in England. George Washington accepted many kairos opportunities as general and president of a fledgling nation. Abraham Lincoln, the once uneducated country-boy, delivered one of the shortest, yet memorable addresses in American History on the Gettysburg Battlefield. As a determined leader of a war-torn country he concluded with this kairos challenge:It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for t he people, shall not perish from the earth. 7 Winston Churchill, on June 18, 1940, gave a fiery-impassioned speech to the House of Commons that historians believe turned the tide of the war by winning a victory for human freedom.Seemingly defeated on every front, Churchill knew that he was the one to make the clarion call: Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, â€Å"This was their finest hour. † (www. winstonchurchill. o rg) The impeccable reality of kairos moments is that they are special, cosmic, and whether recognized or not, even divine. â€Å"The hour is the God-given moment of destiny not to be shrunk from but seized with decisiveness, the floodtide of opportunity and demand in which the unseen waters of the future surge down to the present. (Os Guinness, Character Counts) Nothing is more critical than to recognize and respond to such a moment. Kairos Possibilities and Potential It is the very nature of God to give every human being multiple opportunities to seize high impact moments. These kairos moments are rich with potential and pregnant with possibilities. â€Å"Whatever we may become, wherever we go, whatever we do, we should always be aware of what once was, what might have been, and what could well be again. † (Os Guinness, God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt)Yet, with every opportunity comes a price tag. One cannot seize the day (or time) without c hoosing to not seize something else, which will undoubtedly have consequences. Jesus would speak frequently of counting the costs. People who choose to seize the moments are less concerned about the sacrifices they are making than they are about the significance of their decision. The encouragement is to make decisions wisely. Think of the Old Testament story of Esther. Would she be open to seizing the day? Would she let her divine moment pass her by?She was a lone Jew in a Gentile king’s harem at the precipice of watching the potential genocide of her race when she was given this challenge by fellow-countryman Mordecai: If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What's more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this? (Esther 4:14) She stood face-to-face with her God-given moment of destiny: a kairos moment. James Emery White confidently exc laims, â€Å"Kairos moments are never pragmatic moves to ensure a blessed life during our short tenure on earth.They are moments to be seized for the sake of eternity and the Lord of eternity. † (Life-Defining Moments: Daily Choices with the Power to Transform Your Life, p 97) 8 In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring), an elderly Bilbo Baggins offers to carry The Ring of Power into the Dark Lord Sauron’s domain. His intention is to return it to the Land of Mordor, into the fires of Mount Doom from which it was forged. Yet he knew the temptation of the ring. So he said to himself, â€Å"Bilbo the silly hobbit started this affair, and Bilbo had better finish it, or himself. His old friend Gandalf the wizard releases him from the task, â€Å"If you had really started this affair you might be expected to finish it. But you know well enough that starting is too great a claim for any, and that only a small part is played in great dee ds by any hero. † The great starter of events, of course, is God Himself. And while the great deeds are not done by a few, but by many, the heroes are bound by their choice to take a stand. Through this decision they assume a role in the great contest between good and evil; between the movement of God and rebellion of the Evil One.Each succeeding generation carries on playing its part in the great cosmic battle that will eventually be brought to a finish at the end of history. The question is whether we will choose to walk in the footsteps of the heroes who went before us. It’s a daunting choice indeed. (James Emery White, Life-Defining Moments: Daily Choices with the Power to Transform Your Life, p 85) Tolkien provides some clarity about kairos decisions throughout his epic. The hobbits, the elves, Gandalf, the Fellowship are all part of a metanarrative; a story that provides framework upon which other’s experiences can be built.Each of us is afforded moments to take a stand, regardless of appearance (Frodo, the Hobbit) to position (Aragon, the king in waiting). Kairos moments can catapult a person into the very essence of life, which often comes with great consequences. Yet, it is there, in kairos moments, where we live the great drama of life. Maybe it is in those times when we feel most alive, most in touch with our eternal purpose. Make no doubt about it, these moments are not just discerned, they must be seized. Bilbo’s young nephew, Frodo, knew when the kairos moment was calling him. That’s the way kairos moments often present themselves.Challenges, calls, â€Å"leaps of faith† into the great unknown! Though sometimes unexplainable, the call is unmistakable. Could there be a cosmic gong? At last with an effort he spoke, and wondered to hear his own words, as if some other will was using his small voice. â€Å"I will take the Ring,† Frodo said, â€Å"though I do not know the way. † Elrond raised his eyes and looked at him, and Frodo felt his heart pierced by the sudden keenness of the glance. â€Å"If I understand aright all that I have heard,† he said, â€Å"I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will.This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? But it is a heavy burden. So heavy that none could lay it on another. I do not lay it on you. But if you take it freely, I will say that your choice is right. † 9 Let’s be very clear, the kairos call is sometimes very challenging. The responsibility of the Ring came upon Frodo unwanted, what seems to happen with kairos calls. Yet, the power lies in what we do with the kairos moment.Reflect on some interchanges between Frodo and Gandalf: Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened. Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought. Frodo: I am not made for perilous quests. I wish I had never seen the Ring! Why did it come to me? Why was I chosen? Gandalf: Such questions cannot be answered.You may be sure that it was not for any merit that others do not possess. (He was just a simple hobbit, after all. ) But you have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart, and wits as you have. The weight of kairos opportunities can bring consternation. They call us out of our comfort zones. Oh to have wise people, like Gandalf, who listen to our doubts and then remind us of the importance of seizing kair os moments and staying the course! Kairos moments are well worth it. The Challenge Let’s tweak John Keating’s Latin urge to a kairos admonition: Tempus Occasio! Seize the kairos moment!Every human being is loved by God and eternally valued. Every human being exists for only a certain amount of kronos time. Thousands of years before The Byrds’ popular, â€Å"Turn! (To Everything There is a Season), King Solomon wrote: There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes) The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the word kairos to capture the writer’s intent. The question is, â€Å"What will we do with our kronos moments? † There is something beyond kronos. There is a time that impacts kronos with such intensity that it can alter the very kronos of a person’s life.Every human being is wired with gifts and passions which afford opportunities to make unique impacts. While each of us wri tes the script of our life, we have been given extraordinary potential to make a difference. Tempus Occasio! James W. Moore boldly writes, â€Å"Kairos time is full time, vital time, crucial time, decisive time, God’s time – those rich special moments that break into the humdrum and change your life; those powerful dramatic moments when things seem to fall into place; a new perspective comes, and God seems to be speaking loud and clear.That is kairos! † (Seizing the Moments: Making the Most of Life’s Opportunities, p 16) Kairos and the Present Moment 10 The young struggling diabetic Shelby, in the movie Steel Magnolias (1989) muses, â€Å"I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special. † Kairos moments are waiting to be grasped. There is no better time to apprehend kairos then the exact moment in time in which a person lives: the present moment. Simply put, the past is over; the future has yet to be written. We h ave the gift of the present moment in which to live.Will we seize the present moment or passively watch time tick by? The question is far from cavalier. It carries with it the tenderness of a care-giver blended with the challenge of a coach. The options are simple but the consequences can lead to great complexities. Either we proactively seize kairos time or we, by choice, choose only to live in kronos time, which tempts us to reshape the past or lures us to bring unwarranted assurances to our future. The later is a tenuous place to live. It leads to limited satisfaction, feeds our control issues, and breeds a lack of contentment.Can you think of a moment in your life which brought great joy to you? Fulfilling a dream, falling in love, the birth of a child? If only that moment could be frozen in time. It cannot. That moment is in the past, a memory to which we add other memories which will form the legacy of our lives. That moment is to be remembered and celebrated. It becomes anoth er stitch in the fabric of our lives. It dare not become the entire garment. Recently three Detroit baseball players from an era long gone by were featured guests at a local expo.These once stellar athletes, now plump old men, limped down the stairs to their booth for signing autographs. There seemed to be two types of autograph seekers that day: those who wanted a symbol of some of the good ‘ole years and those who were living as if the ’84 Tigers just clinched the pennant. They donned jerseys and hats; taking the concept of â€Å"fan† to another level. There was a difference from remembering the past and choosing to live in the past. Conversely, can you think of a moment in your life which brought pain or sadness? Was it a poor decision? Someone who hurt you?The loss of someone you love? If only that moment had not happened. It did. That moment is also in the past, and added to our memory. It too, becomes another stitch in the fabric of our lives. It dare not b ecome the entire garment. How many people do you know who live in the past with such intensity that it drives their very decision-making? Rather than choosing to observe the past as a scar, they see it as a festering wound. Some even choose to regularly keep the wound open. That way they can actually use the wound as leverage for manipulation or exacting some revenge.Others peel back the scar when it is convenient giving them a good excuse for not taking responsibility for their decisions. The old saying is true, â€Å"He who ignores history is bound to repeat it. † However, there is a great distance between knowing our past and choosing to live in the past. Philosophy majors spar over this concept. Therapists earn a living helping people understand it. It is the crux of how human beings, young and old, choose to live. Will we choose the present moment? This is very practical. Take for instance, Brady Quinn, quarterback (2002-2006), The University of Notre Dame: 1 Before coac h Charlie Weis came to Notre Dame, Brady Quinn's development was like a slow, steady drip. Quinn had arrived at Notre Dame as a highly touted quarterback †¦However, he wasn't able to live up to the high expectations during his first two years in South Bend, IN. With one season of eligibility remaining, Quinn holds almost every major Notre Dame single-season and career passing record. His improved play has much to do with the Irish's return to a place among the nation's elite programs. (Michael Rothstein, ESPN. om, January 2, 2006) Charlie Weiss came to Notre Dame’s storied program as suburb playing-calling genius with three Super Bowl rings. His pedigree is helping young quarterbacks succeed to monumental levels. In an interview, Quinn was asked to describe the zenith of his turnaround, he simply reflected, â€Å"It all began when I started to believe the coach. † What was the coach’s oft-repeated mantra to Quinn? Forget the past. I’ll worry about yo ur future. Your job is to live in the present moment. If it’s true for a twenty-something sports phenom imagine the stakes from an eternal perspective.What if a person would simply choose to live, just live, in the present moment? Imagine a life of present moment living where authentic behavior is honed by the self-disciple, practice, and self-control of the martial artist. Imagine what it would be like to make conscience efforts to let go of all our baggage – childhood problems, prejudices, assumptions, interpretations, and projections – and being responsive to the moment, appreciating â€Å"the power of now. † Present moment living is both spontaneous and responsible. (Spiritually Intelligent Leadership, Danah Zohar, Leader to Leader, No. 8 Fall 2005) The Bible has specific words for past moments, they are redeemable. I have redeemed you! I have called you by name! You are mine! Our Heavenly Father, through the power of Christ, offers a life of no-regre ts. The slate is wiped clean and He restores â€Å"in spades† that which was lost. That leaves an ominous choice. Either a person can choose to live in the past, listening to all the loud voices which scream of rejection, failure, and unforgiveness or a person can choose to accept the truth: which is, each person is eternally loved and God wants all people redeemed.Because Christ bought us back, we are offered a life of kairos, a way of life which is about â€Å"buying back† (making the most of) opportunities; seizing these moments for the Kingdom of God. Tempus Occasio! Kairos Opportunities People who choose kairos living as a way of life not only accept redemption; they bask in all that it has to offer. They believe the past is really bought back and they are given a new lease at life. The past is a scar. Kairos people look at the scar and remember how much healing distance there is between the present moment and that scar.They believe with more and more faith each d ay that God does indeed, make all things new. Therefore to seize kairos is to â€Å"pluck† all the grace the Heavenly Father offers and accept it through faith. Kairos people accept faith as a gift and deliver increasing amounts of faith to people they meet. 12 People who choose kairos living as a way of life believe the future is really in good hands; God’s hands. Jesus wasn’t stretching the truth when he said, Don’t worry about tomorrow. It is God’s design that we seek to trust Him with our future.Therefore, kairos people are people of hope. They actually believe the Heavenly Father wants to give them good things and do good things through them. Kairos people put their hope in the One who controls the future and in turn, seeks to deliver increasing amounts of hope to people they meet. People who choose kairos living as a way of life know the Heavenly Father loves them first and in turn, respond by loving God with all their heart, soul, and mind. They know the depth of love they receive and want to give it away to others, thereby, living out the Great Commandments of Jesus.Kairos people love God and love people; believing that loving others is directly proportional to how much we love ourselves. Kairos people are people who love, radically and relentlessly and seek to deliver increasing amounts of love to people they meet. Tempus Occasio! Conclusion In the span of every human being’s life there are kairos opportunities. You may not be standing in the hallway of a boarding school with John Keating whispering, â€Å"Carpe Diem! † But you are standing on the precipice of other kairos opportunities. Tempus occasio! You may not be a teenager who is seeking to understand the meaning of life.But you are invited to find purpose and power as you gaze into the face of the One who created you and calls you â€Å"Beloved,† offering you destiny-changing opportunities. Tempus occasio! You may not be gazing into the pi ctures of those who lived a century ago. But you are invited to study the lives of those who have taken their kairos moments and transformed their world. Tempus occasio! Are you ready for an adventure? If you listen real close, you can hear opportunity calling. Your legacy is ready to be written. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? Tempus! Hear it? Tempus! Tempus occasio! Seize kairos! Make your lives extraordinary. 13